Command prompt is displayed briefly, then disappears

[BruceM]

Windows XP Pro SP3. I am logged on to the machine as an Administrator. The
problems I describe below were not problems until recently. I have
installed Firefox and Thunderbird recently, but have made no other changes I
can think of. Firefox is now my default browser, but I did not use
Thunderbird, and just now uninstalled it.

The command prompt, including ipconfig, cannot be made to appear, or appears
for at most a couple of seconds. Any of the following cause the Windows
task bar to blank out for a few seconds, as if I had used the Task manager
to shut down the explorer.exe process, except that the task bar returns:
Start >> Run >> cmd
Start >> Run >> cmd.exe
Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> Command Prompt
Locating cmd.exe in Windows\System32, and attempting to start it from there

In all cases it is the same whether I use Enter, click the OK button at
Start >> Run, use the right click menu, or any other options I can think of.

When I go to Start >> Run and type ipconfig or ipconfig.exe and press Enter
or click OK, I see a command prompt window for a few seconds at most
(usually just a fraction of a second). Same thing when I try to run
ipconfig.exe directly from System32.

For both cmd.exe and ipconfig.exe I have tried this syntax in the Run
window:
%SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe

I have searched for quite a while, but am now out of options.

 

[BruceM]

I forgot about another program I installed recently. I think it was called
Error Smart. It was supposed to scan for problems (registry, shortcuts,
etc.). It was listed as a free download, which it was, but then it turned
out that actually using the program was going to cost money. Before
springing for something like that (which may not be possible at all here at
work) I would need to research which one is best. Anyhow, it is uninstalled
now, along with Thunderbird, and I have restarted.

Another thing I did not mention is that I have disabled most startup items
in msconfig. I also tried with all startup items enabled. Same problems
remain.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Think your Registry needs "cleaning" or "repairing"? Read
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?t=28099 and draw your own conclusions.

Hopefully you have back-ups of the changes Error Smart made.

 

[Elmo]

Windows XP Pro SP3. I am logged on to the machine as an Administrator.
The problems I describe below were not problems until recently. I have
installed Firefox and Thunderbird recently, but have made no other
changes I can think of. Firefox is now my default browser, but I did
not use Thunderbird, and just now uninstalled it.

The command prompt, including ipconfig, cannot be made to appear, or
appears for at most a couple of seconds. Any of the following cause the
Windows task bar to blank out for a few seconds, as if I had used the
Task manager to shut down the explorer.exe process, except that the task
bar returns:
Start >> Run >> cmd
Start >> Run >> cmd.exe
Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> Command Prompt
Locating cmd.exe in Windows\System32, and attempting to start it from there

In all cases it is the same whether I use Enter, click the OK button at
Start >> Run, use the right click menu, or any other options I can think
of.

When I go to Start >> Run and type ipconfig or ipconfig.exe and press
Enter or click OK, I see a command prompt window for a few seconds at
most (usually just a fraction of a second). Same thing when I try to
run ipconfig.exe directly from System32.

For both cmd.exe and ipconfig.exe I have tried this syntax in the Run
window:
%SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe

I have searched for quite a while, but am now out of options.

Try a System Restore to a date before the problems, if SR will work..
If this doesn't help, install, update and run the following programs:

Malwarebytes© Corporation
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe

SuperAntispyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

 

[BruceM]

Thanks for the reply.

I said Error Smart wanted money first, which I didn't pay. It made no
changes of which I am aware, and now I have uninstalled it.

In researching another problem I came across the recommendation to use a
registry cleaner. In fact, I found that suggestion in several posts, but
from the link you sent and other postings I found it does seem it is
unnecessary at best.

As for drawing my own conclusions, there are a wide range of suggestions on
every topic. Within my own areas of comparative expertise (particularly
Word and database development with Access) I have learned enough over the
years that I can sort through confliciting information, but I don't really
have the information and experience to do that with operating system
anomalies. I can try to draw my own conclusions, but I do so based on less
knowledge than I really need to do so with confidence. Instead I must rely
on what others have posted. Since the same postings that suggested a
registry cleaner suggested a course of action that solved another serious
problem the recommendation seemed to have some authority.

 

[BruceM]

Windows XP Pro SP3. I am logged on to the machine as an Administrator.
The problems I describe below were not problems until recently. I have
installed Firefox and Thunderbird recently, but have made no other
changes I can think of. Firefox is now my default browser, but I did
not use Thunderbird, and just now uninstalled it.

The command prompt, including ipconfig, cannot be made to appear, or
appears for at most a couple of seconds. Any of the following cause the
Windows task bar to blank out for a few seconds, as if I had used the
Task manager to shut down the explorer.exe process, except that the task
bar returns:
Start >> Run >> cmd
Start >> Run >> cmd.exe
Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> Command Prompt
Locating cmd.exe in Windows\System32, and attempting to start it from
there

In all cases it is the same whether I use Enter, click the OK button at
Start >> Run, use the right click menu, or any other options I can think
of.

When I go to Start >> Run and type ipconfig or ipconfig.exe and press
Enter or click OK, I see a command prompt window for a few seconds at
most (usually just a fraction of a second). Same thing when I try to
run ipconfig.exe directly from System32.

For both cmd.exe and ipconfig.exe I have tried this syntax in the Run
window:
%SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe

I have searched for quite a while, but am now out of options.

Try a System Restore to a date before the problems, if SR will work..
If this doesn't help, install, update and run the following programs:

Malwarebytes© Corporation
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam/program/mbam-setup.exe

SuperAntispyware
http://www.superantispyware.com/superantispywarefreevspro.html

--
Joe =o)

Thanks for the reply.

The computer is at work. IT had a go at it, so I am not going to try a SR
(politically very bad if things go wrong), but before IT got involved I was
struggling with some other problems and did a restore by selecting an option
when I booted into safe mode.

I ran Malwarebytes yesterday with the latest updates. It found two
problems, but neither seems to have been relevant to the problem at hand. I
also ran a full virus scan using McAfee (8.7.0i) and the latest definitions.
Again, nothing found.

I could install and run SuperAntispyware, but after running AdAware and
Malwarebytes to no effect I have to admit I would be doing so with no real
confidence it will help. Still, no harm to it.

I have read quite a number of postings on the topic. Your suggestions are
in line with some of what I have read. In general it seems to be a problem
that often has no solution. There is nothing relevant at the Microsoft web
site, although the problem has been posted many times in online forums. XP
is broken. Since the command prompt seems not to be an optional Windows
component it seems I cannot attempt to restore it as I would another
accessory.

 

[Pegasus]

Windows XP Pro SP3. I am logged on to the machine as an Administrator.
The problems I describe below were not problems until recently. I have
installed Firefox and Thunderbird recently, but have made no other changes
I can think of. Firefox is now my default browser, but I did not use
Thunderbird, and just now uninstalled it.

The command prompt, including ipconfig, cannot be made to appear, or
appears for at most a couple of seconds. Any of the following cause the
Windows task bar to blank out for a few seconds, as if I had used the Task
manager to shut down the explorer.exe process, except that the task bar
returns:
Start >> Run >> cmd
Start >> Run >> cmd.exe
Start >> Programs >> Accessories >> Command Prompt
Locating cmd.exe in Windows\System32, and attempting to start it from
there

In all cases it is the same whether I use Enter, click the OK button at
Start >> Run, use the right click menu, or any other options I can think
of.

When I go to Start >> Run and type ipconfig or ipconfig.exe and press
Enter or click OK, I see a command prompt window for a few seconds at most
(usually just a fraction of a second). Same thing when I try to run
ipconfig.exe directly from System32.

For both cmd.exe and ipconfig.exe I have tried this syntax in the Run
window:
%SystemRoot%\System32\cmd.exe

I have searched for quite a while, but am now out of options.

I suspect that you fell victim to one of the many infamous "registry
cleaner". Most don't do anything useful at all; some will cause serious
damage to your machine.

I would attempt a System Restore to put Windows back to a point before you
installed the "cleaner". If System Restore no longer works then a manual
System Restore might fix the problem - see here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

YMMV. You may want to review these previous threads on the issue:
http://groups.google.com/group/micr...public.windowsxp.general&q="registry+cleaner"

 

[BruceM]

I suspect that you fell victim to one of the many infamous "registry
cleaner". Most don't do anything useful at all; some will cause serious
damage to your machine.

I would attempt a System Restore to put Windows back to a point before you
installed the "cleaner". If System Restore no longer works then a manual
System Restore might fix the problem - see here:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307545.

I tend to doubt the registry cleaner was the problem. As I have stated, I
ran the registry cleaner. It found all sorts of "errors", then tried to get
me to pay them. I did not, being suspicious of a product that misrepresents
itself as free. Also, I questioned that there were so many errors in a
system that had been generally OK. I did not actually have the registry
cleaner do anything beyond the scan.

Since the problem occurred IT has worked on the computer. Among the things
they did were to install a newer version of the antivirus program, and the
Malwarebytes program. Will a SR undo these changes? BTW, I chose a restore
option at the safe mode screen (restore to the last good configuration, or
something like that), to no effect, before IT started working on it.BTW, I
was curious as to whether cmd.exe is in the registry anywhere, so I attempt
to run regedit, but that doesn't work either. Same symptoms as with cmd.exe
(task bar disappears for a few seconds), then comes back, but nothing
opens).

 

[BruceM]

Again, I see the prevailing opinion is that that registry cleaners are not a
good idea, or at best have a very limited usefulness.

Let me try this again. I *did not* have the registry cleaner do anything.

Mine is a problem with no solution, I think. As I have mentioned in another
post, regedit does not run either. When I try to open it the Windows task
bar goes away for a few seconds, then returns, but the program never opens.

 

[Pegasus]

I tend to doubt the registry cleaner was the problem. As I have stated, I
ran the registry cleaner. It found all sorts of "errors", then tried to
get me to pay them. I did not, being suspicious of a product that
misrepresents itself as free. Also, I questioned that there were so many
errors in a system that had been generally OK. I did not actually have
the registry cleaner do anything beyond the scan.

Since the problem occurred IT has worked on the computer. Among the
things they did were to install a newer version of the antivirus program,
and the Malwarebytes program. Will a SR undo these changes? BTW, I chose
a restore option at the safe mode screen (restore to the last good
configuration, or something like that), to no effect, before IT started
working on it.BTW, I was curious as to whether cmd.exe is in the registry
anywhere, so I attempt to run regedit, but that doesn't work either. Same
symptoms as with cmd.exe (task bar disappears for a few seconds), then
comes back, but nothing opens).

You must let your IT Department resolve the issue. It's no good having two
completely independent cooks stir the same broth.

 

[Unknown]

If you search for accessories and then open the folder and click command
prompt, will it run?

 

[BruceM]

I already tried that, but it does not work. Other exe files such as
calc.exe in that same folder (System32) continue to work properly.

 

[BruceM]

We have an IT person, not a department, and that person is stretched quite
thin. Aside from that, their main task is maintaining the network. If the
decision is to wipe the disk clean and reinstall I will most likely be the
person who does that. If I can find out something that may help I will pass
it along, because one way or the other I am the person who is most likely to
be working on this.

 

[BruceM]

The actual file in the System32 folder. Same problem occurs with regedit,
by the way.

 

[Pegasus]

We have an IT person, not a department, and that person is stretched quite
thin. Aside from that, their main task is maintaining the network. If
the decision is to wipe the disk clean and reinstall I will most likely be
the person who does that. If I can find out something that may help I
will pass it along, because one way or the other I am the person who is
most likely to be working on this.

Using the manual System Restore method I previously suggested will take you
fifteen minutes and is fully reversible. If your IT support person has a
Bart PE boot CD then it will take him even less.

 

[BruceM]

Fully reversible. I can work with that. I will communicate the information
to the IT person, after which I will probably receive the OK to go ahead
with it. Thanks for the help.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

That sounds like a Network Admin, not an IT specialist.

I agree with Pegasus: See if selecting an available Restore Point which
predates the behavior resolves the problem. If not, you may be seeing the
affects of a hijackware infection:

1. See if you can download/run the MSRT manually:
http://www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove/default.mspx

2. Run this online scan (in safe mode w/networking, if need be):
http://onecare.live.com/site/en-us/center/howsafe.htm

3. Run a /thorough/ check for hijackware, including posting the requested
logs in an appropriate forum, not here.

Checking for/Help with Hijackware
http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4075
http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/data/prevention.htm
http://inetexplorer.mvps.org/tshoot.html
http://www.mvps.org/sramesh2k/Malware_Defence.htm
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

**Seek expert assistance in
http://spywarehammer.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?board=10.0,
http://forums.spybot.info/forumdisplay.php?f=22,
http://aumha.net/viewforum.php?f=30, or other appropriate forums.**

If the procedures look too complex - and there is no shame in admitting this
isn't your cup of tea - take the machine to a local, reputable and
independent (i.e., not BigBoxStoreUSA) computer repair shop.
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Desktop Experience - since 2002
AumHa VSOP & Admin http://aumha.net
DTS-L http://dts-l.net/

We have an IT person, not a department, and that person is stretched quite
thin. Aside from that, their main task is maintaining the network. If
the
decision is to wipe the disk clean and reinstall I will most likely be the
person who does that. If I can find out something that may help I will
pass
it along, because one way or the other I am the person who is most likely
to
be working on this.

The actual file in the System32 folder. Same problem occurs with regedit,
by the way.

</paste>

 

[HeyBub]

I tend to doubt the registry cleaner was the problem. As I have
stated, I ran the registry cleaner. It found all sorts of "errors",
then tried to get me to pay them. I did not, being suspicious of a
product that misrepresents itself as free. Also, I questioned that
there were so many errors in a system that had been generally OK. I
did not actually have the registry cleaner do anything beyond the
scan.

I'll wager dollars to donuts that the registry cleaner was the problem.
True, if you pay them, they say they'll "fix" some problems, but are you
certain they didn't introduce some problems, like, for free?

What is the name of this upstanding product?

 

[ju.c]

Simply add the /k switch to keep the command window open:

%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe /k

To keep the command window open for console apps change
the shortcut paths from "C:\Path To\ipconfig.exe" to:
%SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe /k "C:\Path To\ipconfig.exe"


ju.c